Conveyer



. N. W. ELMER Aug. l0, i937.

CONVEYER Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Shea t 2 JQ/I INVENTOR 7,4601( W ZW BY.M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. l0, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER `Application August 10, 1935,' Serial No. 35,613

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveyer for transporting owable solid material in a continuous stream.

In general, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved conveyer of the character specified in which provision is made for reducing to a minimum the production of jams and congestions during the transportation of the material by the conveyer.

A further object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved conveyer of the character specified in which provision is made for facilitating the discharge of the material therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved conveyer of the character specified in which the casing is constructed in a manner such that during conveyance of the material the natural compacting thereof is counteracted and the friction of the material against 2O the casing is prevented from increasing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved conveyer of the character specified in which provision is made for gradually and progressively increasing the effective internal 25 sectional area of the conveyer and, in some instances, for suddenly increasing said area so that any tendency bf the material being conveyed to become compacted is counteracted and the material is maintained in a loose flowable condition, 30 thus promoting efficient `and economical lconveyer operation and facilitating the discharge of the material from the conveyer.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention 35 consists in the conveyer and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. 4

In the drawings illustrating the preferred em- 40 bodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away illustrating a conveyer embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the conveyer illustrated in Fig. 1 show- 45 ing the means for facilitating the discharge of the material from the conveyer; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. i is a perspective view of a modification with portions omitted illustrating a curved portion of 50 a conveyer embodying the present invention; and Fig.` 5 is a detail taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. In the operation of conveyers of the type illustrated in the Redler Reissue Patent No. 18,445, Y April 26, 1932, experience during practical use has 55 shown that variations in the effective cross-sectional area of the conveyer casing through which flowable and substantially incompressible solid material is being conveyed operate to set up congestions which interfere with and in some cases render impossible the conveyance of the material 5 through the conveyer casing. It has been discovered that relatively small reductions in the effective cross-sectional area of a conveyer casing, and particularly of a vertical run, have rendered the operation of the conveyer through the 10 vertical run impossible. For example, it has been found that a reduction in the effective crosssectional area of a conveyer casing is an amount as small as that corresponding to a reduction of one-eighth of an inch in diameter of the casing. 1i or, in other words, a very small percentage of the effective cross-sectional area of the casing has rendered the operation `of the conveyer through a vertical run impossiblewhen operating upon such substantially incompressible materials as sand, cement and the like. Difficulties have also been encountered in effecting the discharge of the material being conveyed by conveyers of the character above mentioned due to congestion at the discharge opening and particularly in cases where sticky material is being conveyed.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for gradually and progressively increasing the effective cross-sectional area of the conveyer casing in the direction of travel of the transporting element in order to` counteract the natural tendency of the material to compact, and provision is made for suddenly increasing the effective sectional area ofthe conveyer casing at those points in the casing where there is more than a normal tendency for the material to compact in order to substantially eliminate jams and congestion and to increase the efficiency and utility of the conveyer; namely, around the discharge opening and at curves of the conveyer casing.

As above stated, the conveyer casing isintentionally made of progressively increasing size in the direction of travel of the transporting member, and in the practical construction of conveyers it is preferred to construct the casing of sheet metal and of sections arranged end to end, each succeeding section being intentionally made of an effective sectional area exceeding that of the preceding section by at least an amount corresponding to the accuracy of the particular shop in which the sections are made. For example, if in any particular shop the construction is carried out to an accuracy of one-thirty-second of an inch then in accordance `with the present invention each succeeding section of the conveyer casingwill be designed at least one-thirty-second of an inch larger than that of the preceding section. The construction of conveyer casings in 5 the manner set forth above insures against the possibility of slight restrictions in the sectional area of the conveyer casing and the accompanying disadvantages above mentioned.

Instead of varying the size of the conveyer caslO ing, the invention may be accomplished in varying Ways by progressively increasing the effective cross-sectional area within the casing in the direction lof travel of the transporting element and preferably by the introduction of tapered space-occupying members positioned Within the conveyer casing and extending longitudinally thereof Within those portions of rthe, casing where it may be desired to vary the effective load carrying area.

As previously pointed out, it may be desirable to produce a sudden increase in the effective load carrying area. of the conveyer casing, particularly at corners, andthis may be accomplished in various ways, such as by varying the size of the conveyer casing at the desired section, or by the introduction of space-occupying members within the conveyer casing, as will be described.

In addition to the enlargement of the conveyer 3Q casing, 'it has been found of advantage to construct the casing so that it is suddenly enlarged in the limmediate vicinity of the discharge openingvin order to cause the material to assume a loosened condition and to facilitate the dis- 3D charge thereof, and it has also been found that provision of discharge openings upon a plurality of sides of the transporting element both with and without the enlargement of the conveyer casing at the point of discharge contributes to 40 the ease and efciency with which various materials may be discharged. In some instances, particularly where the conveyer is used to transport sticky materials, it has been dis-4 covered that the discharge of the material is 45 decidedly facilitated by positioning an abutment or lug in the conveyer casing which is adapted to engage and displace the transporting member laterally of the conduit in order to set up vibrations( in the transporting member tol dislodge 50 the material from the flights thereof, and this is most effective if the lug or abutment is placed in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening, particularly in the vertical run oi' the conveyer, and where the tension in the transporting 55 element is relatively great.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 wherein I have illustrated a conveyer of the type forming the subject of the'Redler reissue patent above referred to, and 60 which comprises a conveyer casing IU having a horizontal leg I2 and a vertical leg I3. An inlet I4 is provided in the horizontal leg I2 through which the solid flowable ymaterial to be conveyed is introduced into the casing to be conveyed 65 through the casing by a plurality of conveyer flights I6 and discharged therefrom from a discharge opening I5 in the vertical leg I3 of the casing.

In accordancev with the present invention,

70 the succeeding sections of the conveyer casing illustrated in Fig. l are constructed so that each succeeding section has a larger effective crossvsectional area than the preceding section in the direction of travel of the transporting ele- 75 ment. In order to provide a sudden increase in the effective internal area of the conveyer casing at the corner in the casing, in Figs. 1 and 3 I have illustrated the horizontal leg I2 of the conveyer casing I0 as being provided with a plurality of space-occupying members 20, 22 which are affixed to the inside of the casing and which extend to the point where it is desirable vto suddenly increase the effective internal area. In some instances, and particularly Where the conveyer flights are relatively large, for example, fourteen inches and larger, it has been found desirable in addition to suddenly increasing the effective cross-sectional area at the corner in the conveyer casing, and to increase the effective cross-sectional area after the corner, and particularly when changing from a horizontal to a vertical or inclined run, and, accordingly, as

the casing ID and extending around the corner to the point Where it is desired to suddenly increase the effective cross-sectional area. As illustrated in Figs; 4 and 5,it is preferred to position the additional space-occupying member 24 at the'top of the conveyer casing I 0 and to notch or recess the conveyer flights I6 so that theymay be freely moved by the additional space-occupying member 24 and function in the usual manner. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, as previously stated, the discharge of the conveyer may be facilitated by the provision of a. plurality of discharge openings I5 and by suddenly enlarging the conveyer casing in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening I5 and, accordingly, in Fig. 1, I have illustrated a conveyer as being provided with a plurality of discharge openings I5 and, as shown in Fig. 2, the conveyer casing is constructed so that a sudden increase in the effective cross-sectional area takes place in the immediate vicinity of the discharge openings I 5, thus causing the conveyed material to assume a more loose and freely flowing condition.

In some instances, and particularly where sticky .fiowable materials are being conveyed, the discharge of the material from the conveyer may be facilitated by the provision of an abutment or`lug 3B positioned in the conveyer casing I0 and adapted to engage and displace the transporting member laterally of the vconduit in order to set up vibration in said transporting member and cause the material to be dislodged from the flights I6 thereof and, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is preferred to place the abutment or lug in the immediate vicinity of the discharge opening I5, particularly of a vertical run of the conveyer, where the tension in the transporting element is relatively great.

From the description thus far, it will be apparent that `by constructing conveyers ofthe type described'so that the effective cross-sectional area of the conveyer casing is increased, the tendency for the material being conveyed to compact and form jams or congestions is counteracted. It will also be apparent that by constructing conveyer casings of the character described so that sudden enlargement in the effective cross-sectional area of the casing takes place at points where more than an ordinary tendency to compact and become congested exists, and particularly at corners and at the discharge opening of the conveyer casing, congestions and jams of the material being conveyed aresubstantially eliminated and the efciency and utility of the conveyer is greatly increased. it will also be observed that in addition to facilitating the discharge of the conveyer, as above described, provision is made for further facilitating the discharge by provision of a plurality of discharge openings in the conveyer casing and by providing means for displacing and setting up vibration in the conveyer flights in order to dislodge the material from the flights.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isz- 1. A conveyer for transporting flow-'able solid material in a continuous stream comprising a casing, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and provided with a plurality of open filghts to effect transportation of Ithe material in `a. mass, said casing comprising a plurality of sections adapted to be secured end to end with each succeeding section of slightly greater effective internal area than the preceding.

2. A' conveyer for transporting fiowabie solid material in a continuous stream having, as a combination, a moving element of the open type and a casing the conveying area thereof being progressively enlarged in the direction of travel of said moving element.

3. A conveyer for transporting flowable solid material in a continuous stream comprising a casing, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and provided with a plurality of open ights to effect transportation of the material in a mass, said casing having the interior thereof increasing in area in the direction of travel of the transporting element.

4. A conveyer for transporting fiowable solid material in a continuous stream comprising a casing, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and provided with a plurality of open flights to eiect transportation of the material in a mass, said casing comprising a sheet metal structure made up of sections, the effective internal sectional area of a succeeding section being greater than that of the preceding section.

5. A conveyer for transporting fiowable -solid material in a mass, comprising a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and provided with a. plurality of open flights to effect transportation of the material in a mass,

said casing having the interior progressively increasing in area in the direction of travel of the transporting element and said interior being suddenly enlarged in the immediate vicinity of said outlet.

6. A conveyer for transporting fiowable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing provided with a. plurality of open flights to effect transportation of the material in a mass, said casing being provided with an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being open on a plurality of sides of the conveyor casing to permit the discharge of the material and said casing having its walls suddenly enlarged in the immediate vicinity of said outlet.

'7. A conveyer for transporting iiowable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing provided with a plurality of open flights to effect transportation of the material in a mass, said casing having the conveying area thereof progressively increasing in area in the direction of travel of the transporting element and being provided with an outlet. said outlet being open on a plurality of sides of the conveyer casing and the internal area of said casing being suddenly enlarged in the immediate vicinity of said outlet.

8. A conveyer for transporting fiowable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing provided with, an inlet and an outlet, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through 'the casing provided with a plurality of open flights to effect transportation of the material, said casing having the conveying area thereof progressively increasing in the direction of travel of the transporting element, said outlet being open on a plurality of sides of the conveyer casing whereby the discharge of the material is facilitated.

9. A conveyer for transporting flowable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and provided with a plurality of open flights to effect the transportation of the material in a mass, said casing having the interior thereof progressively increasing in area. in the direction of travel of the transporting element. and means adjacent said outlet for displacing and setting up vibration in said transporting element.

10. A conveyer for transporting owable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing and pro-vided with a plurality of open flights to effect the transportation of thematerial in a mass, said casing having the internal sectional area thereof progressively increasing in the direction of travel of the transporting element and suddenly increased at points where the normal tendency of the material to jam or congest occurs.

1l. A conveyer for transporting iiowable solid material in a mass, comprising a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a transporting member adapted to be drawn through the casing provided with a plurality of open ights to effect the transportation of the material in a mass, said casing having the interior thereof progressively increasing in area, said outlet being open on a plurality of sides of the conveyer casing, and means adjacent said outlet for displaning and setting up vibration in said transporting member.

N'IXON W. ELMER, 

